Janice Cook’s family knew something was wrong when she stopped posting on Facebook. The 61-year-old Missouri woman, once active on social media, had gone silent. Now investigators know why: her body was found inside an abandoned house in Wellston, Missouri, under circumstances her family calls deeply disturbing.
Cook’s remains were discovered in the vacant property in Wellston, a small municipality in St. Louis County, after family members raised alarms about her disappearance. The Daily Mail reported details of the grim discovery and the family’s anguished search that preceded it. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the cause or manner of death, and no arrests have been announced in connection with the case.
A life that went quiet
Cook, who lived in the St. Louis area, had maintained a regular presence on Facebook, where she kept in touch with friends and relatives. When her posts stopped, family members grew concerned. Efforts to reach her by phone and through other channels failed.
Relatives began searching for Cook on their own, canvassing areas she was known to frequent. The family’s independent efforts ultimately led them toward the abandoned home in Wellston where her body was found. The timeline between Cook’s last known social media activity and the discovery of her remains has not been fully detailed by investigators…